Nick Bitsko

Bitsko attended Central Bucks High School East in Buckingham, Pennsylvania.^[1] He committed to play college baseball at the University of Virginia in November 2016.^[2]

Bitsko gained notoriety due to the circumstances of his draft stock rising; due to the coronavirus pandemic, few Major League Baseball scouts had seen him pitch, and much of the data collected was collected virtually.^[3] He was a top-rated prospect for the 2021 Major League Baseball draft according to Baseball America, but graduated from high school early and reclassified to the class of 2020.^[4] In 2020, he was named Pennsylvania's Gatorade Player of the Year.^[5]

Bitsko was selected 24th overall by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.^[6] He signed with the Rays for a $3 million bonus.^[7] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[8] On December 1, 2020, Bitsko underwent right shoulder surgery to repair a labrum issue.^[9] He did not make an appearance in 2021 while recovering.^[10]

Bitsko spent his first professional season in 2022 with the rookie–level Florida Complex League Rays and Single–A Charleston RiverDogs. In 14 games (12 starts) split between the affiliates, he compiled a 1–2 record and 6.23 ERA with 20 strikeouts over 26 innings pitched.^[11] Bitsko missed the entirety of the 2023 season as a result of Tommy John surgery.^[12]

Bitsko returned to action in 2024 with the FCL Rays, struggling to a 38.57 ERA with 3 strikeouts in 2+1⁄3 innings pitched over 4 games.^[13] He later suffered an injury and was placed on the season–ending injured list in July.^[14] Bitsko made six appearances (three starts) for the FCL Rays in 2025, struggling to a 12.60 ERA with four strikeouts over five innings pitched. He was released by the Rays organization on July 25, 2025.^[15][16]